This is the first high-wheeler I ever found. It was in a barn outside of town, hanging in the rafters. I pulled it down and started riding around the pasture. The guy who owned it was amazed because he'd had it his whole life—as his father had before him—and he’d never seen anybody ride it.

deus , 6 years agoWas it really the first time you tried to ride this high-wheeler? It took me three tries to get up on my my families. It felt like I was on top of the world!!!

DMK678, 6 years agoLocal paper Dec.13th I read about these.1820 " two wheeled wooden "walking machine" was invented in Europe"More a sitting scooter than a bicycle but it was the first step in what would become a Revolutionary machine by the late 1800's.All the rage for who could afford one.The San Francisco Examiner reported in 1895 the first owner on the West Coast of the U.S was Col. Ralph de Clairmont who imported it from Paris in 1876
In 1877 G. Loring Cunningham imported an English bike.The fad of the bicycle was catching on.Soon great #'s were imported from Coventry, England.
At first the "contraption" began being rented by the dozens @ the east end of Golden Gate Park.At first only the rich could afford to buy or rent these.With time more became available,the public could afford one.
With the invention of the pneumatic tire by John Boyd Dunlop in 1888,the bikes became more comfortable.The "free wheel" was invented, allowing you to "coast"
rather than pumping all the time.By 1905,coaster brakes,Derailleur gears and hand-operated cables for brakes became available.The simple "coaster" of the early 1800's had now become a "mainstream" vehicle for the masses.
In addition to the "social revolution" the Bicycle created in the 1800's, the invention of ball bearings, pneumatic tires, chain driven sprockets and spoke tensioned wheels laid the foundation for the next great revolution in transportation- the automobile.
Never been on one. But their pretty cool.
In this article they even link some woman's dresses being made(shorter) due to women being interested in riding bikes.??
Anyway! Sorry for the history lesson. Just happened to be reading about these
bikes recently.
Thanks for sharing Mike. 678.

Electraglide, 6 years agoI think you look better on that knucklehead but still, thats a cool bike. Thanks for all the cool tips from your show, i enjoy watching and learning. When i die you can come get my old trains, baseball cards and whatever else i have collected through the years, but you and Frank leave my motorcycles alone.

Nancy Salisbury, 6 years agoI saw the show when you found the high wheeler . I could hardly believe my eyes when you jumped right up on that thing and started ridding it . Good find and good job of ridding it . I love your show .

lawat56, 6 years agohey great pic , looks like the one you pick not long ago on your show,yall are doing a great job on how to make a living on what some call junk and we call it treasure,we got a lot of that here middle tn were i live ,infact i got some you need to come by and pick ,got old JC HIGGINS bike and more that needs a good home.
the ap is the best show on TV as far as TV goes i can't get enough of i am a true addict for sure is that a bad thing ,well way i see it if a am going to addict this my doew fall LOL keep up the good work andkeep that rusty gold come .law

Vontrike, 6 years agoAlways a great day when you uncover a bicycle or a cool old accessory.

mysharona, 6 years agoI just love that you rode this thing! so cool! Awesome pic... we love you, Frank, and Danielle! ya gotta take her pickin again SOON.. it's it your turn to mine the shop? right?

cocacolaman62, 6 years agoHey Mike,Great ride!!!!If your ever in Ky.I think you and Franky should pick me up.I love what you guys are doing and hope to do the same thing someday.I got the eye for it.Sounds like a show,get picked for a pick.If you would,tell Danielle Todd in ky said hi and she dose a great job.Dont ever let'er go..Happy hunting guys.

YardSaleMama, 6 years agoHi Mike,
Love the show. I want to go pick with you and Frank. LOL. Ya'll should come to Alabama, you would not believe what treasures I find here in this small town I live in . I'm adding to my collection all the time and getting great finds. There is no telling what lurks beneath this house being that's it's a hundred years old. I'm a little scared to look , I might never come back out again... ha. Keep up the good picking, as I will here and post my treasures.

tterrag7991, 6 years agoHey was this the guy who had all the bikes cars and motor stuff?

Dizzydave, 6 years agoHey Mike, Dave from St Joseph, Missouri, met you at Penn Street Mall. If you got another one of those, I would like to see you and Frank race! LOL

Cassata, 5 years agoHey im 13 and im a huge collector mike and i actually find some of the stuff you find on your show out in our fields on Hilton N.Y

andycandy103, 5 years agohi im andrew and i love ur show im ur #1 fan watch it on recordings all the time im 12 and i love collecting i collect toys and stuff that just looks cool in yard sales

Cassata, 5 years agoSorry your talking to his number one fan here ( im Andrew to)

kbow, 5 years agoThis is awesome! We used to have a guy here in Fort Scott that rode one of these at the Good Ol' Days parade every year. He has a curled mustache and they have a picture on the good ol' days cups that sort of look like him. Now you just need a derby and a mustache and you're good to go!

lovevintage, 5 years agoI LOVE OLD BIKES TOO. I HAD THIS AWESOME GREEN & CREAM BIKE WITH THE TANK, STREAMERS, DICE CAPS, FAT TIRE'S WITH WHITE WALLS, A HORN, IT WAS A GREAT BIKE UNTIL SOME KID YELLED AT ME HEY LOOK ITS PEE WEE HERMANS GIRLFRIEND... WELL THAT WAS ALL I NEEDED. NEVER RODE THE BIKE AGAIN.. (well on that street again).

hotkitties, 5 years agoIn Deadwood on HBO, the keeper of No 10 Saloon rides one of these down the thoroughfare. In Lonesome Dove the Series, Dr Cleese rides one through the potholes of main street. Very cool to watch!!

ralph, 5 years agoI have a kids version of the pennie farthing. I call it a pennie half pennie. I'm not how to poast a photo of it but if I had your email address I could sent it to you. It is all forged made and no nuts and bolts, all steel.
Regards, Ralph.

oldhippee, 5 years agoWow, we Look so forward to your shows! Even the reruns.!! Tell Frank if he still has the Vega Banjo TO NOT sell it for $300! It is worth more than that! And hey to Danielle too!

Kathycat, 4 years agoLove the bike. Love your show. I think you, Frank and Danielle are so funny. Oh by the way I think Danielle should get extra money for mileage. LOL

musikchoo, 4 years agoMike,you have a pretty good center of Balance. Wish I could have been there to watch that Ride!

thunderroadx2, 4 years agoI love your show, the bike, the way you live, wish I could do the same, I deal with bikes fixing them can be hard but I do it anyways just because the quality is there old bikes all the way!

surfdub66, 2 years agoOver here in the uk they're called a PENNY FARTHING , & heres a funny story-
One of these was stolen from outside an antiques shop in Honiton uk by a drunk man in his 20s at around 130am , obviously on his way home from the pub!!
At 3am that morning police came across a man riding a penny farthing between Honiton & Exeter on the main A30 dual carriageway with no lights so stopped him ,found he was drunk & arrested him .
it wasnt til the next morning the penny farthing was reported missing , the police had already let the man go & had to re-arrest him the same day and recover the penny farthing ;-))

Ericocon, 2 years agoWow that is amazing, I would probably fall off and kill myself Lol
Thanks for sharing

Trey, 2 months agoYou got some sweet stuff Mike, when you going to post some more?